Recovery of Remains of Airman Confirmed in Osprey Crash, says Air Force

The Air Force confirmed on Friday that the remains of one airman who was aboard the Air Force CV-22B Osprey that crashed off the coast of Yakushima Island, Japan, on Wednesday have been recovered. "Seven Airmen are in DUSTWUN status, meaning duty status-whereabouts unknown," a statement from Air Force Special Operations Command said. "At this time, we can confirm that one set of remains has been recovered."

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh announced on Friday that all V-22 Ospreys in Japan are currently undergoing maintenance and safety checks as search and rescue efforts continue. The unit to which the crashed CV-22 belonged is not conducting any flight operations. Singh also stated that information about the accident is being shared with Japanese partners and that the Pentagon has committed to continue doing so in a timely and transparent manner.

The Air Forces news release states that the search and rescue operations being conducted near Yakushima, Japan include air, surface, and subsurface searches of the water and coastline. The Japanese Coast Guard, Japanese Self-Defense Forces, Pacific Air Forces, US Pacific Fleet, US Marine Corps Forces Pacific, Special Operations Command Pacific, and 1st Special Forces Group are all participating in the search. The Air Force has indicated that the CV-22 Osprey was on a routine training mission at the time of the incident on Wednesday and that the cause of the crash is currently being investigated.

Singh emphasized on Friday that the United States prioritizes the safety of our service members and Japanese communities.

The Osprey has a history of mechanical and operational issues, and has been involved in several fatal incidents over the last 30 years.